A baby’s refusal to suck at the breast is a distressing problem for a mother. The mother can feel as though her baby is rejecting her and may think she has to wean. However, the problem is usually temporary. When supporting a mother who is concerned about breast refusal, it is important to firstly determine if the baby is truly refusing. For example: Is she allowing her newborn enough time to attach and feed? Does she perhaps not realise that feeding patterns change as the baby gets older Sometimes you may never know the reason for the baby’s refusal.